John West

John has been involved with the festival since its inception, serving as chair from 1998 until 2005. He has had a wooden boat of some description since the age of five, notably the Knut Reimers’ yawl, Gabrielle II, and the Bill Garden circumnavigator, Astrocyte. For 20 years his troller cruiser, Scaup, served as the festival committee boat.  John’s interest in the provenance of west coast craft, power and sail, commercial and pleasure, has kept pace with his childhood enthusiasm over the years and his knowledge of these vessels is considered encyclopaedic.  He is a staunch supporter of the Maritime Museum of British Columbia and the S.A.L.T.S. Sail and Life Training Society.